AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN SPEAKING ENGLISH DURING DIALOGUE ACTIVITIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v11i03.57646Keywords:
Speaking Difficulties, Lack of Fluency, Vocabullary LimitationAbstract
This study analyzes students' difficulties in speaking English during dialogue activities at SMP Negeri 2 Berastagi. Speaking is a fundamental skill in English language learning, yet many junior high school students face significant challenges when required to communicate orally. Using a qualitative descriptive design, data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation from 30 seventh-grade students. The findings reveal that 83.3% of students experienced lack of fluency, manifested through long pauses, hesitation and fillers, and fragmented utterances. Furthermore, 100% of students demonstrated limited vocabulary range, with 63.3% experiencing difficulty retrieving words and 60% facing lexical gaps. The study concludes that vocabulary limitation is the primary factor causing speaking difficulties, as insufficient lexical knowledge directly disrupts fluency and hinders students' ability to express ideas during dialogues. These findings imply that vocabulary development should be prioritized in teaching speaking skills.
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